The Work Profiler: A digital instrument for selection and diagnosis of the unemployed

Abstract

The Work Profiler is an instrument that indicates a job seeker’s probability of work resumption within a year. In addition, it offers a quick diagnosis of the job seeker’s obstacles for return to work. The Work Profiler was developed through a three-stage research process (a literature review, a cross-sectional study and a longitudinal study) in order to identify the best predictive factors for work resumption. While a large part of the research was done regionally in the Province of North Holland, the Dutch Institute for Employee Benefit Schemes (UWV) has decided to use it nationwide. At present this profiling instrument is already being used in almost a third of all unemployment offices in the Netherlands.